What the Media Gets Wrong About Nursing — and Why It Matters (With Sandy Summers)

What the Media Gets Wrong About Nursing — and Why It Matters (With Sandy Summers)

Hosts Marion Leary, PhD, MPH, RN and Rebecca Love, RN, MSN, FIEL welcome Sandy Summers, RN, MSN, MPH, founder and executive director of The Truth About Nursing, for a powerful conversation about how the media shapes the way the public sees nurses — and why it matters far beyond entertainment. For 25 years, Sandy has been pushing back against the way nurses are portrayed on TV, in advertising, and in the news. From the early days of organizing nurses to challenge ER, to going after Hooters for a naughty nurse ad campaign, to today's fight with The Pit, Sandy walks through the stereotypes that won't go away and the real-world consequences of those portrayals on funding, policy, staffing, and the nursing shortage itself. In this episode, you'll hear how Sandy got the Washington Post to cover her first nursing media campaign in 2001, why she says the so-called nursing shortage was created by the hospital industry, how AI reimbursement codes are threatening to redefine nursing roles without nurses at the table, and what every nurse can do right now to join the fight. Whether you're a clinical nurse, a nurse leader, a nursing student, or a healthcare changemaker, this conversation is a call to use your voice. Jump Ahead:  * 00:58 — Welcome and introducing Sandy Summers * 01:32 — The Truth About Nursing's mission * 02:57 — Why nursing is the largest profession but still poorly defined in media * 03:34 — How it all started: the 2001 budget cuts and the ER campaign * 07:38 — Why The Pit is making the same mistakes ER did * 08:52 — 25 years of progress: ad campaigns, billboards, and global media wins * 11:09 — Why Sandy keeps going after 25 years * 13:20 — "I can't tolerate the disrespect" * 13:23 — How media portrayals affect policy, STEM designation, and funding * 14:54 — Nursing education gets 1/50th of physician education funding * 15:30 — Why the nursing shortage was created by the hospital industry * 16:29 — The CPT codes problem: 288 for AI, zero for nursing * 18:35 — How nurses can get involved with The Truth About Nursing * 20:00 — Linda Aiken's research: doubling a nurse's workload increases mortality by 31% * 23:28 — How to get more nurses fired up about this fight * 26:30 — Turning anger into action instead of burnout * 28:10 — Sandy's parting words to nurses * 28:44 — Closing thanks 🎙️ About The Love & Leary Podcast Thank you for tuning in to The Love n' Leary Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a colleague. 🌐 Connect With Us * Official Website: Visit nurse.org/lovenleary [https://nurse.org/news/love-n-leary-nursing-podcast/] for episodes, articles, and exclusive nursing resources. * Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to  Love n' Leary Podcast YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8b-ZIIYHag&list=PLgegOJGNp_ok5OrMAooRuPcuEqbp6Wd-C] to watch full video episodes and highlights. 👥 Follow the Hosts on LinkedIn Stay connected, network, and join the conversation with us professionally: * Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca Love on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalovenursing] * Connect with Marion: Marion Leary on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionleary] > About Nurse.org: Empowering, entertaining, and uniting nurses worldwide. Explore more career guides, news, and community stories at Nurse.org [https://nurse.org].

The Story Behind the Schooling: Nursing, Journalism, and a Student’s Voice

Hosts Marion Leary, PhD, MPH, RN and Rebecca Love, RN, MSN, FIEL welcome Danae Petit, a rising senior nursing student at the University of Pittsburgh and senior columnist at The Pitt News, for a powerful conversation about nursing school, identity, and the power of telling your own story. Danae shares the rude awakening of her freshman year, the moment a small interaction at a campus food spot inspired her most-read column on what it means to be a Black nurse, and how falling in love with a labor and delivery clinical rotation helped her find her niche. Along the way, Marion and Rebecca dig into why nursing needs more storytellers, why representation in the profession matters, and why writing about real nursing experiences can shape the future of healthcare. Whether you're a nursing student, a nurse leader, or someone who has ever wondered whether your voice in this profession matters, Danae's story is a reminder that small moments and honest writing can ripple outward in ways you don't expect. Jump Ahead:  * 00:59 — Welcome and introducing Danae Petit * 01:47 — Why Danae chose nursing instead of medical school * 03:02 — Discovering writing as a creative outlet at The Pitt News * 04:48 — The "rude awakening" of freshman year * 05:32 — The shift from high school to college-level studying * 06:52 — Is nursing school harder, or is it the transition? * 08:26 — How readers responded to her first nursing column * 09:43 — The comfort of knowing you're not alone * 10:20 — Writing about what it means to be a Black nurse * 11:00 — The small moment at the food spot that became a column * 13:24 — Why diverse voices in nursing matter * 14:46 — "Whether I realize it or not, there are always people watching" * 17:13 — Representation in nursing: 11% of undergrad students are Black * 18:28 — Finding her niche in labor and delivery * 18:45 — Her first C-section and falling in love with L&D * 20:49 — A favorite professor and the joy of L&D * 21:31 — What senior year looks like * 22:18 — Will the writing continue after graduation? * 23:49 — Marion and Rebecca on why nursing needs more storytellers * 25:53 — Closing thanks 🎙️ About The Love & Leary Podcast Thank you for tuning in to The Love n' Leary Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a colleague. 🌐 Connect With Us * Official Website: Visit nurse.org/lovenleary [https://nurse.org/news/love-n-leary-nursing-podcast/] for episodes, articles, and exclusive nursing resources. * Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to  Love n' Leary Podcast YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8b-ZIIYHag&list=PLgegOJGNp_ok5OrMAooRuPcuEqbp6Wd-C] to watch full video episodes and highlights. 👥 Follow the Hosts on LinkedIn Stay connected, network, and join the conversation with us professionally: * Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca Love on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalovenursing] * Connect with Marion: Marion Leary on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionleary] > About Nurse.org: Empowering, entertaining, and uniting nurses worldwide. Explore more career guides, news, and community stories at Nurse.org [https://nurse.org].

Code Red for Future of Science in America (Opinion)

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this episode belong solely to the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, beliefs, or position of Nurse.org. Hosts Marion Leary, PhD, MPH, RN, and Rebecca Love, RN, MSN, FIEL, are joined by Dr. Lorena Grundy (AAUP Vice President and Practice Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Penn) and Dr. Logan Spector (pediatric cancer genomics specialist at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine) on the Love n' Leary Nursing Podcast. The panel discusses a 412-page proposed rule from the White House's Office of Management and Budget regarding federal science funding in the United States. If enacted, the proposal would alter the grant decision-making process by giving political appointees the authority to override peer-review selections and terminate active grants mid-study without an appeals process. In this episode, the guests break down the specific components of the document, examine its potential impact on nursing research and clinical trials, and explain how the public can participate in the ongoing public comment period. At the time of recording, approximately 6,500 comments had been filed toward a collective advocacy goal of one million. This conversation outlines the details of the proposed policy and provides instructions on how researchers, clinicians, nurse leaders, and community members can submit feedback. Jump Ahead:  * 01:11 — Welcome back and introducing the episode * 02:01 — Introducing Dr. Lorena Grundy * 02:53 — Introducing Dr. Logan Spector and why this conversation was hard to book * 06:06 — Dr. Grundy on what's actually in the 412-page proposed rule * 08:55 — How this affects every scientific field, from nursing to engineering * 11:05 — The risk to active clinical trials and the patients enrolled in them * 16:47 — How universities and individual scientists balance the risk of speaking out * 23:55 — Why you can comment anonymously and how to do it * 26:06 — Rebecca's call to action * 28:21 — Why anyone can comment, not just scientists * 31:11 — Final thoughts and a thank you to the guests * 32:01 — The current comment count and the goal of one million * 33:14 — Closing thanks Listen now at nurse.org/news/love-n-leary-nursing-podcast. 🎙️ About The Love & Leary Podcast Thank you for tuning in to The Love n' Leary Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a colleague. 🌐 Connect With Us * Official Website: Visit nurse.org/lovenleary [https://nurse.org/news/love-n-leary-nursing-podcast/] for episodes, articles, and exclusive nursing resources. * Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to  Love n' Leary Podcast YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8b-ZIIYHag&list=PLgegOJGNp_ok5OrMAooRuPcuEqbp6Wd-C] to watch full video episodes and highlights. 👥 Follow the Hosts on LinkedIn Stay connected, network, and join the conversation with us professionally: * Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca Love on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalovenursing] * Connect with Marion: Marion Leary on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionleary] > About Nurse.org: Empowering, entertaining, and uniting nurses worldwide. Explore more career guides, news, and community stories at Nurse.org [https://nurse.org].

Why Thousands of Nurses Are Marching on Capitol Hill May 7 (With Dr. Danielle McCamey and Dr. Lendra James)

In this episode of the Love n' Leary podcast, host Rebecca Love sits down with nurse leaders Dr. Lendra James and Dr. Danielle McCamey, co-founders of Nurses Shift Change, to talk about why nurses must “report for duty” in Washington, D.C. this Nurses Week. They break down the urgent threats facing healthcare—hospital closures, cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, loss of coverage for vulnerable communities, and risks to nursing’s status as a profession—and why nurses’ voices are essential in shaping policy.  Learn what to expect at the Report for Duty Rally and Hill Day, how advocacy connects to nursing’s Code of Ethics, and how joy, art, and community can fuel resistance and change. Tune in to get inspired, get informed, and get ready to show up. >>Why Thousands of Nurses Are Marching on Capitol Hill May 7 [https://nurse.org/news/report-for-duty-rally-2026/] Jump Ahead to Listen:  [00:01:22] Introducing the Report for Duty rally in DC [00:01:51] Origin and mission of Nurses Shift Change [00:02:20] Adding Hill Day meetings with lawmakers [00:03:21] Why Washington, DC and engaging legislators [00:04:01] History of nurses marching and advocacy in DC [00:05:21] Why nurses must leverage their collective power now [00:06:41] Healthcare in trouble and nurses on the front lines [00:08:33] Joy and resistance: format and feel of the rally [00:09:09] Core values: humanity, ethics, social justice, science [00:11:55] How to get involved and where to find more information Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalovenursing/] Connect with Marion on social media: Instagram: @marionleary [https://www.instagram.com/marionleary/] TikTok: @marionleary [https://www.tiktok.com/@marionleary] Facebook: Marion Leary [https://www.facebook.com/marion.leary1/] 🎙️ About The Love & Leary Podcast Thank you for tuning in to The Love n' Leary Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a colleague. 🌐 Connect With Us * Official Website: Visit nurse.org/lovenleary [https://nurse.org/news/love-n-leary-nursing-podcast/] for episodes, articles, and exclusive nursing resources. * Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to  Love n' Leary Podcast YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8b-ZIIYHag&list=PLgegOJGNp_ok5OrMAooRuPcuEqbp6Wd-C] to watch full video episodes and highlights. 👥 Follow the Hosts on LinkedIn Stay connected, network, and join the conversation with us professionally: * Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca Love on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalovenursing] * Connect with Marion: Marion Leary on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionleary] > About Nurse.org: Empowering, entertaining, and uniting nurses worldwide. Explore more career guides, news, and community stories at Nurse.org [https://nurse.org].

2 Nurse Leaders at the Peak of Their Public Health Careers Resigned — Here’s Why (With Dena Bushman and Rebekah Stewart)

In this episode of the Love n' Leary Podcast, hosts Marion Leary and Rebecca Love speak with nurses Dena Bushman and Rebekah Stewart about their difficult decision to resign from the United States Public Health Service. After years of leadership in public health and infectious disease response, both nurses share the ethical and moral conflicts they faced when deployments shifted toward immigration detention facilities. Through candid conversation, they discuss moral distress, nursing ethics, and the responsibility nurses carry when systems conflict with patient care. This episode explores advocacy, courage, and how nurses can use their voices to drive change in healthcare and beyond. Jump Ahead to Listen:  [00:01:21] Nurses resign from U.S. Public Health Service [00:01:42] Dena’s background and CDC / EIS path [00:03:07] Becky’s ER, Ebola, and CDC career overview [00:06:24] Becky’s ethical breaking point and decision to resign [00:09:37] What the U.S. Public Health Service is [00:11:58] Shift in deployments toward detention facilities [00:13:20] Question about deaths and conditions in detention [00:13:47] Becky’s 2019 Border Patrol deployment experience [00:17:42] Dena rostered to ICE and Guantánamo, moral distress [00:25:03] Dena on using your voice and next steps for nurses Connect with Rebekah:  * LinkedIn: Rebekah Stewart [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekahjstewart/] * Substack: @rebekahjstewart [https://substack.com/@rebekahjstewart] Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalovenursing/] Connect with Marion on social media: * Instagram: @marionleary [https://www.instagram.com/marionleary/] * TikTok: @marionleary [https://www.tiktok.com/@marionleary] * Facebook: Marion Leary [https://www.facebook.com/marion.leary1/] 🎙️ About The Love & Leary Podcast Thank you for tuning in to The Love n' Leary Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with a colleague. 🌐 Connect With Us * Official Website: Visit nurse.org/lovenleary [https://nurse.org/news/love-n-leary-nursing-podcast/] for episodes, articles, and exclusive nursing resources. * Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to  Love n' Leary Podcast YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8b-ZIIYHag&list=PLgegOJGNp_ok5OrMAooRuPcuEqbp6Wd-C] to watch full video episodes and highlights. 👥 Follow the Hosts on LinkedIn Stay connected, network, and join the conversation with us professionally: * Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca Love on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalovenursing] * Connect with Marion: Marion Leary on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marionleary] > About Nurse.org: Empowering, entertaining, and uniting nurses worldwide. Explore more career guides, news, and community stories at Nurse.org [https://nurse.org].